Activity 6 The ‘In’ Crowd

Consider the ‘cool people’ at school or in society – what do they

have in common? Discuss this with a peer and then share with
the class.

Who are the ‘outcasts’ these days? Discuss this with a pair and
then share your findings with another group. Select a person from
the four or five of you to record your thoughts on the whiteboard.

What happens when a ‘cool’ person hangs out with a ‘social

outcast’? Are there any consequences? In Jesus’ time there was.

If the ‘cool people’ associated with an outcast, then they were

subject to significant scrutiny. Sometimes they were told to leave
their group and become outcast themselves. This is why Jesus caused such a stir as he spoke to and
dined with whoever invited him. At the same time, this also drew a large following. Scandalous!

Task A: Use this student-created Prezi to complete the social pyramid below. Drop and drag the
social groups to the appropriate level. Make upper class groups green, middle class groups yellow
and lower class groups red. See: http://prezi.com/u6mnkk_6hevg/social-classes-in-the-time-of-
jesus/.
Labourers and Priest and
farmers religious figures

Government and Plebs/peasants

army officials

Slaves Patricians

Roman Emperor Women

Pharisees Shepherds

Merchants and
artisans

Those who were

poor or ill
In Jewish times, there were strict laws/codes in place which people followed
and lived their lives by. The majority of people would never dare breach these
codes. If they did they would be considered outcasts in society.

1. Social Hierarchy
In Jewish times, there was a very strict social hierarchy. If you think of a ladder,
the people at the top of the ladder did not mix with people at the bottom of
the ladder. For example, Priests and Levites would have been at the top of the
ladder/social hierarchy and they would not have mixed with the servants and
slaves at the bottom of the ladder. Similarly Samaritans and Jews did not mix
either, in fact you could say they hated or despised each other. For women,
their place was to have children and look after the home. They were not
entitled to paid work or to be a part of the political system. They were not
allowed to leave the home without their husband/male companion.

Can you think of a parable where this Jewish Code may have been breached?

Can you think of a parable where a Samaritan helps a Jew?

2. Purity

There were many causes of ‘impurity’ in Jesus’ time including, eating non-
kosher foods (e.g. pork), physical illness (e.g. leprosy, paralysis) or contact with
a corpse or certain animals. Many people of this time believed that if you were
ill or poor, this was God’s way of punishing you. Inter-racial association was
also out of the question. You only spoke to people of your own cultural
background. Why? Because one had to be ‘pure’ to enter the Temple to pray.
There was an area outside the Temple for a man (note I have written man) to
wash his hands, feet and mouth before he entered holy land (on foot), prayed
with the Torah (hands) and prayed aloud (mouth).

Can you think of a parable where the Purity Code may have been breached?

Can you think of a parable were someone was working with pigs?
 3. Honour/Shame

Every action has a reaction. This reaction, if negative would not only affect the
individual, but also their family and the entire population of the village they
lived in. It was also considered a serious sin. Jewish people, as a foundation of
their commitment to their family and their faith obeyed the Commandment –
honour thy father and mother. Children were committed to their parents until
the day they passed away, looking after them and honouring their every wish.

Can you think of a parable where someone did not honour their family?

Can you think of a parable where a brother brought great shame on their
family? Which brother?

Summarise these codes in 10 words or less:

Social Hierarchy

Purity

Honour/Shame

Jesus thought differently to the social

codes of His time!

See what He said in Mark 7: 14-23

Extension Activity What’s your problem?

Choose two of the scripture passages below to locate on www.biblegateway.com

For each complete these two tasks:

a) Outline in 1-2 sentences which social code is mentioned

b) List the characters in the passage and rank them on the ladder (position text boxes).

Choose from:

 Luke 7:36-50
 Luke 10:25-37
 Mark 10:13-17
 Luke 7:1-10
 Luke 7:36-50
 Mark 14:66-72

Scripture A Scripture B

Social Code
 Scripture A: ____________ Ladder

Scripture B: ____________ Ladder

What would be one advantage of following Jesus’ example of challenging Jewish social codes?